Accrington Stanley 2 Exeter City 1. League 2
Saturday 21 March 2009.

On the road with Jim Sheppard 

City came away from the Fraser Eagle Stadium with as much as they deserved after taking an early lead and then being second best for large parts of a Saturday afternoon when a victory would have moved them up to fourth. Credit to Accrington Stanley who, until today, hadn't come back to win after conceding first. But, just as the grit and determination of victory pleased manager Paul Tisdale against Bradford City the previous Saturday, it will be lack of the same qualities that will leave him scratching his head after this game.

What was to come would be a complete shock to the City and their following as they came out of the blocks like an express train. A kick off routine switched to Sercombe on the right immediately put City on the front foot and within a minute Moxey's header from a comer was scrambled off the line by a combination of keeper Arthur and a defender. Minutes later a long Jones punt eluded all the defenders and left McAllister 18-yards out centrally. But as the wind kept the ball a little too far in front of him and the defence recovered, his toe poke slipping harmlessly wideCity were getting in behind Accrington almost at will and their goal came as no real surprise. It was simple enough. Arthur's goal kick was headed back from halfway by Seaborne. McAllister flicked on and Stansfield collected the ball on the edge of the box, took a touch, the drove right footed, low across the keeper into the far comer. Double figures for the season and City were in control Minutes later Stewart had an effort blocked after a long throw fell to him but it was then a full 30 minutes before they threatened again. Meanwhile, Accrington came into the game. There was no real threat. to City's goal, but they were dominating possession, territory, and chances, and it felt inevitable they would equalise. When it came, on 33 minutes, it was thoroughly deserved. A short comer was fed to Miles who was able to cut inside to the corner of the 18-yard box. With a couple of yards of space he unleashed a terrific right foot effort that flew past all the attackers and defenders into the far corner. Despite this the better chances then fell to City. First, Gill dragged an effort wide after he'd burst through onto Stansfield's clever pass, then Arthur was at full stretch to claw away McAllister's headerIt was a terrific save as he got enough on the ball to keep it away from lurking City attackers tooAlthough it was just before half time, that was to be the last save he'd have to make. The second half mirrored the pattern of much of the firstCity at times looked like they'd never played together and Accrington looked the confident top six promotion contender. They made City's wing backs almost redundant and were able to release players to run at Edwards and Archibald-Henville, whilst controlling the midfield and not letting the trio in there have any possession. This in turn meant City's attackers hardly had a touch. City's first real effort of the half came midway through Sercome's wild effort from distance sailed harmlessly over. By this time Fleetwood had replaced McAllister and City were already behind. Fleetwood and Russell left a ball for each other on halfway and a defender quickly stepped in and released Miles. He ran at Edwards and crossed low. Seabome had left Lindfield unmarked 10 yards out and failed to cut the cross out. As he and Archibald-Henville attempted to recover, Lindfield was able to lift the ball over the advancing Jones. Saunders replaced Stansfield but City had no threat until the final five minutes when they looked as if they might force an undeserved drew. But Arthur's goal remained in tact and his hands never got the chance to warm upMoxey's tame shot summed up City's lacklustre performance. In the grand scheme of things we have had somewhat of a reprieveOnly Rochdale won of the teams lying between 2nd and 8th and City remained in 6th place. Tully, Cozic, Saunders, Manny Panther, Richard Logan, Fleetwood and Fred Murray will all now be pushing hard for starts if fit and that itself should leave us optimistic. It is a squad game and we have the squad to deliver. Thirty Eight games in we are where we are because we are good enough. That is the belief we need to take into the game at Rochdale before a home double header against Port Vale and the Daggers. It's going to be a tight end to the season but all our hopes are still right there for the taking

BBC match summary and information

Craig Lindfield was the Accrington hero as his winner secured a third win in four games and boosted Stanley's battle against the drop. Liverpool loanee Lindfield fired home Chris Turner's cross on 64 minutes to dent Exeter's promotion hopes. Exeter led on five minutes when a Craig McAllister flick set up Adam Stansfield for his 10th goal of the campaign. But Stanley battled back and a Peter Cavanagh corner found John Miles who curled a shot into the roof of the net.

Accrington Stanley: Arthur, Cavanagh, Charnock, Edwards, Williams, Procter, Ryan, Turner, Miles, Lindfield, Symes.

Subs not used: Murdock, John Mullin, Grant, Hibbert, Kay.

Booked: Lindfield.

Exeter: Jones, Seaborne, Edwards, Archibald-Henville, Moxey, Sercombe, Stewart, Russell, Gill, Stansfield (Saunders 72), McAllister (Fleetwood 62).
Subs not used: Marriott, Tully, Cozic.

Attendance 1169 with 244 City fans

Referee: Karl Evans (Greater Manchester).

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale told BBC Radio Devon

"I'm disappointed, but it's not over, we've got lots of football to be played yet. "I thought we were fabulous in the first 15 minutes, possibly the best we've started all season. "It looked like we could win by four or five by the way we started."